Outgoing National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan denied reports that the Biden administration is considering returning nuclear weapons to Ukraine after the country abandoned its stockpile 30 years ago after the collapse of the Soviet Union. .
last month, The New York Times reported Several anonymous officials have floated the idea of Ukraine becoming a nuclear power again as a deterrent to Russian aggressors.
“That's not on the table. No,” Sullivan said Sunday on ABC News' “This Week” when asked about the report.
“What we're doing is pushing a range of conventional capabilities into Ukraine, not nuclear capabilities, but so that Ukraine can effectively defend itself and fight Russia.”
In 1994, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum in which it agreed to transfer nuclear weapons, part of the Soviet Union's extensive arsenal, in exchange for security guarantees from Russia, the United States, and Britain.
The focus was on Ukraine. It is not believed that he had the code. Necessary for operating nuclear weapons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is furious about how his country has handled itself since the Budapest Memorandum now that the Kremlin has invaded.
“Which of these major nuclear powers were affected? All of them? No, Ukraine. [did]Zelensky” I lamented At the European Council Summit in October.
“Who has given up nuclear weapons? All? No, Ukraine. Who is fighting today? Ukraine,” he continued. “Either Ukraine has nuclear weapons and it protects us, or we need some kind of alliance. Apart from NATO, we don't know of any effective alliances today.”
Sullivan stressed that he is rushing to do what he can for Ukraine before President Biden leaves the White House and President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
President Trump, 78, has made clear his intention to end the bloody war being waged in Ukraine, but he has not said specifically how he intends to achieve that goal. President Trump has appointed retired Army General Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
Kellogg has supported Ukraine in the past. recently defended President Biden has decided to give Kiev permission to launch the Army Tactical Missile System (ATCMS) deep into Russian territory, a move that has upset some of President Trump's allies.
Asked about speculation that the second Trump administration might broker a deal to transfer territory in Ukraine to Russia, Sullivan paused.
“The important thing from my point of view is that Ukraine will decide.[s] That destiny, and that fate, cannot be imposed by outside forces, including the United States,” Sullivan said.
“What was important this year was to try to provide as many tools as possible to Ukraine so that it could come to the negotiations and feel that it could achieve the results it wanted,” he added. “As far as territory and security and other factors, I'm not going to talk about it publicly.”
Zelenskiy had previously requested reinstatement. Borders of Ukraine in 1991This means regaining control of the Crimea and Donbass regions. However, his tone seems to have softened recently.
“If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we should take the following steps.” [the] NATO will include the territory of Ukraine that we control,” Zelenskyy told Sky News on Friday through an interpreter.
“That's what we need to do quickly so Ukraine can diplomatically regain other parts of its territory.”
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance previously dangled a peace plan that included a special demilitarized zone between the warring countries and Ukraine, and promised that Ukraine would not join NATO.
Sullivan, whose wife is Rep.-elect Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), also briefly touched on the Israel-Hamas war, saying that reaching a ceasefire with Israel could push for “broader diplomatic initiatives in the region.” I guessed it was.
“We are determined to act quickly, bring the hostages home, establish a ceasefire, and move forward with this larger agreement that we hope to finalize as soon as possible, including during President Biden's tenure. “He's still president,'' he said.
